I am in love, but at this moment in time not with anyone in particular. It is funny to me that I can feel this way without any romantic entanglement. It is something that goes against all the media propaganda on romantic love that encourages the idea that a person cannot be whole without finding that special someone that completes them. I think being complete is really being self-actualized, not meeting prince charming. I visited the National Museum of the American Indian in DC last summer and the thing that sticks out in my mind from this visit is a piece of wall text that read, "You cannot love another until you love yourself" or something to this effect. For me this is true. Maybe my thoughts stray to love because of it just having been Valentine's Day and according to Gov. O'Malley still is (he stated that Valentine's Day is extended in Maryland until February 23rd!). Many people I spoke with had strategies for getting through the day on February 14th. I never thought much about Valentine's Day and it surprised me that so many people think so much about it. I do think often about love, what it is, what it means, who I love and how. I have found that in opening my heart to more than just romantic love, I have experienced much deeper and more satisfying feelings. There are so many nuanced feelings that fall into the category of love and they are often not acknowledged, especially in popular culture. How can we begin to talk about, describe, and express these things? How can we find a true language of love that includes all the people in our lives not just our lovers, partners, husbands, wives, and children? Until we are able to talk about and express all these different ways we feel love, we will be at a loss, and especially susceptible to the fabricated dream of finding prince charming or cinderella. Instead let us find ways to express the love we feel for ourselves, our families, neighbors, friends, co-workers, students, mentors, other people's children, strangers, and the world. Let us expand who and what we love and experience the love that is returned to us when we allow this to happen.